Wednesday, December 1, 2010

Carbidopa-Levodopa 25-100 Tab

I was prescribed the generic version of Sinemet, which is a combination of carbidopa and levodopa. Levodopa does the heavy lifting, changing to dopamine in the brain. Carbidopa prevents the breakdown of the levodopa in the bloodstream so that more levodopa is delivered. This is a very powerful combination of drugs with the potential for many side effects.

Dr. F, with a flair for the dramatic, chose to warn me of the more bizarre behaviors that could be caused by C-L.I winced at the possibility of uncontrollable gambling, shopaholism and the potential to show amorous attention to inanimate objects.

Of course, C-L is prescribed with the hope that the benefits of using the drug will outweigh the risks. With my limited exposure and small dosage during that first week, I experienced no ill effects.

I can’t say noticed a lot of benefits either. I was still foggy about my symptoms. My complaints had been building so slowly that I adapted without understanding. Symptoms could manifest merely by thinking about them.I wondered if I was making up my complaints. I knew I did not sleep well. I knew my feet sometimes felt heavy. I was stiff in my shoulders and back and had difficulty relaxing. As an added delight, I became aware of a slight pull in my neck muscles that made my head twist to the right.

Until now, I linked these complaints to my shoulder problems. Now, I had a new paradigm. I was forced to look at my physicality through the lens of Parkinson’s.

About Me

In November 2008, Michael Spokane was diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease at the age of 52. In November 2010, he began writing about his experience with the disease in an effort to help himself and others.
Michael is interested in receiving and responding to your comments and feedback. Please feel free to join in.
Michael lives in Southeastern Pennsylvania with his wife. He has two grown children. He had a career in general contracting and finish carpentry and specialized in historic restoration.